The CCSU community has long demonstrated its interest and initiative in sustainability—an environmental concept which has often been defined as “meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising those of future generations.”  Archival records show that Central’s environmental efforts date to at least the emergence of the national environmental campaign in April 1970 with the first Earth Day celebration.

We aim to build on our historic commitment.  As President Miller stated, we are determined to keep “in the vanguard of worldwide sustainability efforts.  Our work adds to the efforts of many others to do the right thing to ensure that our earth, our only true home, will continue to sustain us into the future.”

We are pleased to announce some of the results of a baseline sustainability audit prepared for the committee by the firm Woodard and Curran.  The sustainability audit gathered data on CCSU’s current sustainability initiatives and identified areas for improvement.  The consultants found many, many members of the CCSU community already doing their part to promote sustainability. These include custodians, students and staff who recycle in their areas and encourage others to recycle as well, the purchasing officers who have made “green purchasing” and reduced waste a priority, and the facilities management staff who took the lead in reducing our campus's dependence on fossil fuels.  CCSU already has several successful sustainability measures in place, including energy conservation programs; a new, highly efficient and environmentally friendly Energy Center; energy-efficient and water-saving features in buildings; and a hazardous waste minimization program.

In fact, although we didn’t compete, CCSU’s current recycling rate of 31percent would have put it in 20th place out of the 77 schools participating in a nationwide competition called RecycleMania in 2007.

The Woodard and Curran study also suggested improving recycling programs, launching an educational campaign on water conservation, improving the sustainability of food service operations, reducing transportation impacts, and formalizing some of CCSU’s current programs.

We recognize that, while the University has made significant strides, there are areas needing our concerted efforts. To organize our initiatives, our committee is developing a comprehensive sustainability plan.  Our goals, initially, will be to conduct pilot programs to increase recycling of plastic bottles and cans, to strengthen our energy conservation efforts by implementing water saving measures, to replace lighting with energy efficient fixtures, and to better control room temperatures in residence halls and academic buildings.  Key to the success of these efforts will be several educational initiatives designed to inform our community about steps we can all take to ensure the quality of our environment for this and coming generations.  Here, too, it’s just as our motto proclaims: “Start with a dream. Finish with a future.”

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